Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Wednesday's Forecast
Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Heavy snow and hail showers, isolated lightning
Showery precipitation, often heavy, may merge to become constant for periods. A mix of snow and hail often falling to lower slopes. Risk of very localised thunder and lightning.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
Winter kit required on higher terrain
Snow cover over higher mountains. Safe progress over some terrain will require suitable footwear - possibly crampons and ice-axe where necessary.
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Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Heavy snow and hail showers, isolated lightning
Showery precipitation, often heavy, may merge to become constant for periods. A mix of snow and hail often falling to lower slopes. Risk of very localised thunder and lightning.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
Winter kit required on higher terrain
Snow cover over higher mountains. Safe progress over some terrain will require suitable footwear - possibly crampons and ice-axe where necessary.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Wednesday 25th March 2026
Last updated
Tue 24th Mar 26 at
3:40PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Widespread hail and snow showers, at times heavy with a risk of isolated lightning. Fewer showers in the N Pennines and southeast Scotland for a few morning hours, but returning afternoon. Gales widespread as well with sudden strong gusts, easing only slightly in Scotland. Cold, staying below freezing above 500-600m.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Frequent snow and hail showers; gales, easing somewhat
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 40 to 50mph, varying speeds with squally gusts around showers up to 50mph. With time, tending to ease and trending northwesterly, at times lowering to 35mph in the far west.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking arduous with frequent buffeting, in places more challenging over higher exposed terrain with severe wind chill. Beware sudden strong gusts, necessitating additional effort to maintain stability.
How Wet?
Frequent hail and snow, at times persistent
Showery snow and hail falling to lower slopes, most frequent toward the north and west, but extending increasingly across all the region; risk of isolated thunder & lightning. Staying showery later but easing in strength.
Cloud on the hills?
Varying over tops, lowest north slopes
Cloud base constantly changing, will come and go all day above 900m, frequently capping high tops toward north, patches at times to 700m during showers, but also clearing tops for periods between showers. A risk of more extensive high terrain cloud for several hours in the morning.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Bursts of bright sunshine, most widely south of Cairngorm plateau afternoon. Visibility intermittently very good, but appalling at times in showers with brief whiteout over tops.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-3 or -4C, a slight rise into afternoon. Wind chill often feeling as cold as -20C high tops.
Freezing Level
400m from dawn, lifting to 500m, slightly higher away from showers.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Thursday 26th March 2026
Last updated
Tue 24th Mar 26 at
3:40PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 25-40mph, strongest high eastern hills. Easing, shifting westerly, 15mph, later SW'ly and restrengthening.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking in exposure with wind chill, stability challenged in the east. Effects easing to fairly small.
How Wet?
Substantially dry during daylight
Risk of a few early light snow showers, but likely dry. Through afternoon, some snow/refrozen rain arrives to westernmost mountains, turning to rain and spreading eastward into nighttime, most extensive falls south and west hills.
Cloud on the hills?
Largely clear, then lowering through afternoon
At dawn, patchy cloud may cling to the high tops, this soon lifting for cloud-free hills. Through afternoon, cloud will lower to the tops, first in the west, further lowering, extensive to middle slopes after dark; higher bases northeast.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
90%, lowering to 30% or lower by evening
Sunshine and air clarity?
Bright sunshine in the morning, gradually weakened by high cloud, overcast by evening. Excellent visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-5C, rising to -3 or -2C, sharply rising overnight, several degrees above freezing. Feeling like -15C in early wind.
Freezing Level
Fairly widespread frost at dawn. A slight rise, then sharply lifting above the summits around and after dusk.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Friday 27th March 2026
Last updated
Tue 24th Mar 26 at
3:40PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 30-40mph, trending towards higher speeds with time, 45mph into evening.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking increasingly arduous in exposure with significant wind chill, conditions deteriorating as dusk approaches.
How Wet?
Snow showers, mostly west
Likely dry at daybreak. Showers soon arrive from the west, snow to 600m, and largely confined to Monadhliath/Drumochter area. Showers push further east in afternoon, some heavier falls possible too.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly high western terrain, often broken
Some ragged patches of cloud at several elevations at dawn but these dissipating after sunrise. Banks of cloud occasionally drift over the high tops, most often west during showers, as low as 800-900m afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70%, lowering to 50% west afternoon
Sunshine and air clarity?
Frequent bright sunshine, turning to a patchwork afternoon, most cloud west. Very good visibility, though suddenly poor in showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C early, sunny slopes may briefly rise a degree; lowering, -3 or -2C into night. Feeling like -13 to -15C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Lowering from overnight, 800m at dawn, lowering to 600-700m through the day.
Planning Outlook
Thursday starts chilly with clear skies for many, snow then rain moves into western areas with time. Strong northwesterly winds prevail as the weekend starts, brining cooler temperatures and a mix of showers and sun across most areas, the showers likely snowy to middle elevations with some hail mixed in. The cool, spring-like conditions will allow showers to become heavier and more widespread in the afternoon. Sunday into next week sees high pressure southwest of the country, producing drier weather with sun breaks, a trend towards milder temperatures too, but several low pressure systems to the north draw bands of rain eastward, mostly affecting Scotland, occasionally northern England and Wales. A risk of cooler northerly winds re-establishing later in the week, though detail is uncertain.